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Saturday, June 17, 2006

Star Wars Stuff (with cool pics, natch)!

EDITOR'S NOTE: THE QOTD HAS BEEN VERY REMISS. SOME OF THIS STAR WARS NEWS HAS BEEN SITTING IN MY TO-BE-BLOGGED FILE FOR A WEEK OR MORE. (SHAME SHAME SHAME, THY MONIKER IS QOTD!)SO...AS PENANCE (EVEN DWEEBROYALTY MUST DO PENANCE....... FROM TIME TO TIME, THANK YOU C3PO), WE'LL HAVE A BIG 2-WEEK-COMBO SW POST TODAY, AND THEN A BONUS SW POST WITH THE DISNEY SW WEEKEND WRAP-UP SOMETIME LATER THIS WEEKEND.IT JUST CAN'T GET MUCH BETTER THAN THAT,EH?

FIRST UP, FROM LAST SUNDAY, EVIL WINS A PRIZE ----Ian McDiarmid Wins TonyIan McDiarmid, won a Tony Award Sunday night for "Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play", for his role in "Faith Healer. EDITOR'S NOTE: OF COURSE HE SHOULD HAVE AT LEAST BEEN NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR THIS PAST YEAR, BUT THE TONY'S ARE ABOUT REAL ACTING, RIGHT? (OR SO MY PARENTS HAVE ALWAYS SAID).AND JUST TO SHOW DWEEBS RULE, FRANCES LA TOUR AND RICHARD GRIFFITHS ALSO WON TONYS IN THEIR CATEGORIES (LA TOUR WAS MADAME MAXINE, THE PART-GIANTESS IN THE MOST RECENT HARRY POTTER FLICK, AND GRIFFITHS IS UNCLE VERNON IN THOSE MOVIES. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T RECOGNIZE THEIR NAMES).

AND NOW, A BIT OF SAD NEWS ---Tim Hildebrandt 1939-2006Sadly, we've lost another great and influential part of Star Wars.

Artist Tim Hildebrandt, half of the Brothers Hildebrandt, passed away on June 11 from complications due to diabetes. For readers not familiar with the Brothers' work, follow this link to the website dedicated to their collaborative art.

Our thoughts go to his brother Greg and the rest of the Hildebrandt family.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A SAMPLE OF THEIR ART ---

AND PROBABLY THEIR MOST RECOGNIZABLE SW CONTRIBUTION ---

Star Wars Weekends Airport AdIt seems Star Wars is everywhere!

Bruce Smith sent in this photo of a Disney Star Wars Weekends ad near the baggage claim at the Orlando airport.

EDITOR'S NOTE: LOL!

ILM Have Lost Their MagicAccording to the Sci-Fi Wire, the physical production unit of ILM, which deals with models, miniatures, and stage work, is being sold to an ILM employee, Mark Anderson, and will be renamed Kerner Optical.

It will be a preferred subcontractor for ILM. EDITOR'S NOTE; SHOULD WE BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS? IS THIS A BAD THING? OR IS IT JUST AN INEVITABLE OFF-SHOOT OF THE DIMINISHING OF PHYSICAL MODEL WORK RELATIVE TO CGI?

George Lucas Previously Unreleased Student Film On DVDGEORGE LUCAS' PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED STUDENT FILM AND CULT CLASSIC GEORGELUCAS IN LOVE TO BE RELEASED ON DVD IN EUROPE FOR THE FIRST TIME!

George Lucas' USC student short FREIHEIT is to be released as part of Cinema16: American Short Films, the latest release from the critically acclaimed Cinema16 series.

Lucas has recorded a directors commentary to accompany the film, which stars his classmate Randal Kleiser (who later went on to direct GREASE) as a student dodging bullets as he tries to cross the border from East to West Germany.

Cult classic George Lucas in Love, is also included on Cinema16. This short satire of STAR WARS and SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE has Lucas searching for the true origins of the Star Wars saga during the creator's college years, and introduces an assortment of characters that serve as the director'sinspiration. Director Joe Nussbaum and producer Joseph Levy have recorded a new commentary to accompany the release.

Cinema16 celebrates the short film by showcasing some of the best classic and award winning shorts on DVD accompanied by audio commentaries by their directors. The release of Cinema16: American Short Films follows the success of two previous DVD releases in the series ­ Cinema16: British Short Films and Cinema16: European Short Films ­ which include the work of Mike Leigh, Ridley Scott, Lars von Trier, Stephen Daldry, Lynne Ramsay, Christopher Nolan, Jean-Luc Godard, Patrice Leconte, Tom Tykwer, Nanni Moretti, Lukas Moodysson and Jan Svankmajer amongst others. Both collections have grown through word of mouth to become major independent hits.

Aside from providing short films with a much needed platform Cinema16 gives filmmakers and movie-lovers access to some great films that would otherwise be near impossible to see. With over three and a half hours of films EDITOR'S NOTE: NOT SO SHORT, WHEN YOU ADD THEM ALL UP, EH? Cinema16 is essential viewing for anyone with an interest in the moving image.

Responses to Cinema16:"The quality of this collection is exceptional, it's like having acomplete film festival in the comfort of your own home" - Empire

"A unique collection of exceptional short films" - Dazed & Confused

"Film studies in a box" - The Sunday Times

"A must-have for any film fan" - The Telegraph

"Pure quality, beautifully packaged, with no filler" - The Times

Cinema16: American Short Films is NTSC, Region 0. EDITOR'S NOTE: DOES THIS MEAN IT IS VIEWABLE ON AN AMERICAN DVD PLAYER OR NO? CAUSE IT SOUNDS FASCINATING. AND LIKE WE COULD ALL RELIVE OUR COLLEGE FILM CLASS DAYS......FOR BETTER OR WORSE. (DON'T GET ME STARTED ON THE GUY WHO GLUED LEAVES AND DIRT DIRECTLY ONTO THE FILM-STOCK AND RAN IT THRU THE PROJECTOR FOR AN HOUR. EEK.).

If there's one design that captures the character of the Star Wars universe, it's that of R2-D2. Practical, well-worn, durable, yet elegant, R2-D2 remains one of the crowning achievements of concept artist Ralph McQuarrie, who first sketched out designs for the squat little astromech during the preproduction phase of A New Hope in 1975. With the first film's release, R2-D2 became an overnight sensation, booking guest appearances on variety and talk shows, at movie premieres, and even landing the cover of People magazine's "25 Most Intriguing People of 1977." EDITOR'S NOTE: AH...TIMES WERE SO SIMPLE BACK THEN.....

It's no surprise, then, that the media quickly adopted the classic dome, barrel, and tri-leg design to convey anyone or anything with a technological slant -- political cartoons relished the opportunity to use the highly-recognizable droid in caricature, and tech magazines often portrayed the little astromech vaguely endorsing the computer hardware gracing their covers. The most inspired use of the familiar R2 unit design, however, has to be that of Coca-Cola's "Cobot" robot from the late 1970s and early '80s. Replacing the barrel-shape portion of Artoo's body with that of a Coke can, the Cobot -- an amalgam of the words "Coke" and "robot" -- was born, much to the delight of soda-drinkers and supermarket shoppers everywhere.

The Cobot, which had been called "Cokebot" and then "Kobot" before finally settling on the now-familiar moniker, was originally devised as a promotional gimmick for supermarket appearances, tradeshows and special events in 1979. Measuring four feet tall, the full-size astromech clone could roll, turn, swivel its dome, blink, speak, and even "sing." Unlike many of Artoo's appearances in A New Hope, where actor Kenny Baker performed these maneuvers from within Artoo's body, the Cobot was fully automated and remotely controlled. EDITOR'S NOTE: THERE WAS AN AUTOMATED, REMOTE-CONTROLLED R2 ON THE MOVIE SET TOO, BUT MY UNDERSTANDING WAS IT OFTEN ROLLED OFF COURSE. MAYBE THE MOVIE PEOPLE SHOULD CHECK OUT THE AD BIZ TECH? The Cobot was designed and built by Creative Systems Group of Norcross, Georgia, who manufactured robots for 21st Century Robotics, Inc.

This image allegedly shows the original homespun R2-D2 that inspired the creation of the Cobot robot

According to Michael Paul, current President and Chief Engineer for 21st Century Robotics, the original idea for the Cobot came from his company's former owner and founder, Ron Green. "Fantasy Factory, a division of Creative Systems Group, built an R2-D2 look-alike soon after the first movie release due to owner Bill Tolar's fascination with Star Wars," says Paul. The robot caught Green's attention at a promotional event, prompting him to get in touch with a contact at Coca-Cola to pitch the idea of a cola can robot. "A conceptual drawing was submitted to Coke and they loved it," adds Paul.

Green ordered six prototypes and Creative Systems Group quickly got to work devising the full-size Cobot, which was powered by a 12-volt battery and fitted with a 2-way radio to allow a remote operator to both listen in and speak to customers. As the company's good-will ambassadroid EDITOR'S NOTE: OH DEAR. THEY ARE AS BAD AS DISNEY AT CUTSEY-MORPHING THE LANGUAGE. and Coke's first-ever physical mascot, Cobot would encourage the purchase of Coca-Cola products and gently scold shoppers for choosing the products of competitors. The Cobot also featured an on-board 8-track tape deck that could play "bleeps", "computers," "space and laser sounds," or the Coke jingle of the day, "Have a Coke and a Smile." A red window on the front of Cobot's dome was illuminated with the word "SMILE," quietly referencing the song title.

The novelty of a full-size robotic Coke can wandering the aisles of neighborhood supermarkets was pretty newsworthy back in the early '80s, and would undoubtedly still cause quite a stir among today's tech-savvy shoppers. "Print news and television couldn't get enough of Cobot," says Paul. "Supermarket chains were obvious venues to promote the Coca-Cola brand, so as soon as the robots were deployed, they were appearing everywhere. Its celebrity status became a natural when Coca-Cola took its products to trade show floors."

One Cobot career highlight included a brief appearance at the 1980 Winter Olympics Games where it "skated" among world class contenders on ice. Green also recalls the Cobot making guest appearances with celebrities, such as Bill Cosby and Muhammad Ali. EDITOR'S NOTE: AND THEY SAY AMERICANS DON'T BRING ANYTHING TO THE WORLD-CULTURE PARTY?! MARKETING, BABY! WE ARE OLIYMPIC GOLD MEDALISTS AT MARKETING!

Promotional decal from Germany

Because of the Cobot's enhanced visibility both at home and abroad, Green found himself producing far more of the full-size Cobots than he ever dreamed would be necessary. From original estimates of 10-20 units, the final number produced ended up somewhere around 275, according to Green. Coca-Cola eventually subsidized sales of the Cobots to bottlers in the U.S. and over 30 countries around the world. Evidence of the Cobot phenomenon can still be found on promotional materials printed in Australia, Canada, England, Germany, and Japan, among others.

One gimmick that caught on with many bottlers around the world was staging contests that allowed consumers to name the robot, which at the time was still referred to generically as "The Coca-Cola Robot" (the "Cobot" name was devised in-house at Creative Systems, but was not immediately formalized).

This giveaway poster, drawing pad, and in-house Coca-Cola stationary all showcase the famous soda mascot.

True to the spirit of acting, the Cobot could take on any number of identities in addition to adopting new names. The robot was sent to bottlers with a kit allowing them to brand it with any one of Coca-Cola's soft-drink varieties of the day. Shedding the familiar red and white Coke deco, the robot could take on the guise of Sprite, Mello-Yello, Fanta, or any other beverage brand owned by Coca-Cola.EDITOR'S NOTE: THAT SPINNING SOUND YOU HEAR IS R2D2...THE REAL ONE (WHAT...HE'S NOT REAL???)....MORTIFIED BEYOND DROID BELIEF! The kit included an interchangeable magnetic brand panel that could be applied and removed from the robot's metallic body, an 8-track EDITOR'S NOTE: A STATE-OF-THE-ART DROID WITH AN 8-TRACK. GIGGLE. with the appropriate sound effects and jingles, and a means to swap out the soda bottles that were attached to the robot's feet.

In addition to meeting the Cobot at any number of supermarket venues around the world, some lucky shoppers could actually take home a miniaturized remote-controlled version sold alongside Coca-Cola products. Merchandising the toy Cobot seemed like a no-brainer given the popularity of Star Wars among kids, and Coca-Cola was all too happy to have consumers take home what was essentially a piece of brand advertising. Lucasfilm, however, saw a potential licensing conflict -- believing the Cobot resembled R2-D2, they felt it could conceivably infringe on Kenner's own remote-controlled version of the astromech droid.

Happily, an arrangement was struck EDITOR'S NOTE: AND THERE WAS ONCE AGAIN JOY IN MARKETINGLAND! HUZZAH! -- Coke would manufacture no more than 1,000 units of the Cobot miniature, distributing them through only three regional U.S. test markets, including the Coca-Cola store in Atlanta. Lucasfilm would receive a royalty on their sales, and R2-D2's original design patent would be listed on the box and toy.

A trio of different Cobot buttons from Canada.

According to Green, the Cobot toy was the fastest selling near-pack premium ever to be sold through Atlanta's Coca-Cola store at the time, which he recalls cost around $23. Like its larger counterpart, the miniature Cobot could move forward and backwards, turn, spin its dome, flash its "SMILE", and make electronic beeping sounds. Green also remembers that an extremely rare variation of the Cobot toy was distributed by Foodland Markets in Atlanta, which featured a flashy grocer uniform decal applied over the standard Coca-Cola graphics.

Cobot appears on this cup from Canada.

Michael Paul still displays one of the Cobot toys in his company office, which travels in its own special showcase display to trade shows. "Cobot will always hold a very high place in history for 21st Century Robotics," says Paul. EDITOR'S NOTE: AND IN THE ANNALS OF 20TH CENTURY MARKETING, NO DOUBT?

In the wake of the enormously successful Cobot design, 21st Century Robotics offered many subsequent models that evolved out of the Cobot mold. Budweiser, Coors, McDonald's, and FedEx are just a few of the brands the company counts among its many clients, although an arrangement with Atlanta-based police departments in 1980 probably had the most profound influence on the company's current stock in trade.

"In 1980, Green's 21st Century Robotics approached the Atlanta City Police and the Atlanta Board of Education to produce a 'policeman' robot to teach stranger danger during the missing and murdered children cases in Atlanta," says Paul, who joined Creative Systems Group in 1989 as lead technician and robotics department manager. "This became the launching pad for the Auxiliary Robotics Educational System, A.R.E.S., and continues today."EDITOR'S NOTE: SO EVEN OUT OF CRASS COMMERCIALISM, SOME GOOD THINGS MAY ARISE. Green had sold the promotional robotics division of 21st Century Robotics Inc., to Creative Systems in the mid 90's.

This poster and button from Australia showcase a pair of regionally-assigned names given to the Cobot

"In 2000," continues Paul, "CreativeKiosk, led by Tom Zaken, became another division of CSG, after mobile computing and ATMs had taken off around the world. The new push was towards custom designed kiosks for all kinds of product promotions in retail venues and ticketing kiosks at airports. The production of robots ceased and 21st Century Robotics was fast becoming a memory."

Three Cobot tie-tacks

After 10 years at Creative Systems Group, Paul left the company but continued to service its robots around the world. Discovering three years later that 21st Century's original customer base was still eager for new designs, Paul decided to re-incorporate 21st Century Robotics, now located in Monroe, Georgia, to begin research and development on the NG-1, or The Next Generation robot. In September, 2005, Paul debuted the NG-1 at the International Association of Chiefs of Police show in Miami, coupled with a full-swing marketing campaign aided by partners Lenovo and Microsoft.

Cobot key chain from Japan"NG-1 offered unmatched technology breakthroughs in robots for educational markets," beams Paul, "and its robust, yet sleek design once again caught the attention for promotional markets. News stories are regularly requested and NG-1 is booking appearances in every type of venue"

21st Century Robotics' new NG-1 robot is creating a whole new set of robot fans

Even with their new state-of-the-art robot headlining the company website, the revered 27-year-old Cobot is still listed among the handful of robots the company still provides service for on their support page. Like the stalwart droid that inspired the first Cobot, it appears 21st Century Robotics remains loyal to the end. EDITOR'S NOTE: AWWW....I LOVE YOU R2D2!

A pair of Cobot buttons from England

To learn more about 21st Century Robotics' latest products, please visit their website here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: AND NOW, SEVERAL EU/BOOK ITEMS (THE BAD NEWS? I'VE ACTUALLY GOTTEN BEHIND IN MY STAR WARS BOOK-READING. THE GOOD NEWS? I GET TO CATCH UP! A RARE MOMENT IN MY DWEEB LIFE WHERE I'M NOT WAITING WITH HELD BREATH FOR THE NEXT BOOK TO COME OUT, CAUSE I HAVEA BACKLOG. WOOHOO!):

Boba Fett Novella Due In August

Not much is known at the moment, but the Official Star Wars website announced (quitely) the other day that Karen Traviss has a Boba Fett e-novella coming out this August called A Practical Man. It appears to tie in with her Legacy of the Force title, Bloodlines, which is due this September.EDITOR'S NTOE: WELL, I HAVEN'T HAD GREAT LUCK WITH MAKING MY E-BOOK DOWNLOADS DOWNLOAD PROPERLY, BUT BARRING THAT, KAREN TRAVISS IS ONE OF THE BETTER OF THE AUTHORS. SO YAY!

Plagueis Book Coming In '08For many months now, Del Rey has had a single book left on its contract ('05 to '08) that wasn't yet assigned. With the full breadth of the timeline more open now than ever before, speculation has been fierce as to what kind of story we might end up getting.

At long last, we have an answer, courtesy of the Official Site:

Luceno to Pen Plagueis Page-turnerDid you ever hear the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise? I thought not. It's not a story the Jedi would tell you. It's a Sith legend. -- Chancellor Palpatine (a.k.a Darth Sidious).With that carefully calculated name-drop in Episode III, the silver-tongued Palpatine added another intriguing entry into the limited roster of known Dark Lords of the Sith. Since that fascinating tale first escaped his lips last year, Star Wars fans have been aching for any sort of information that would shed light on the immediate Sith history that produced Darth Sidious. In 2008, readers will learn more. James Luceno, author of the bestselling Cloak of Deception and Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader, has been contracted by Del Rey Books to write a novel about Darth Sidious and his Muun mentor, Darth Plagueis. As is to be expected on all matters of the Sith, details remain obscured by the shadow of the dark side, but in time, more will be revealed.

Luceno's as yet untitled book is scheduled for hardcover release in 2008.

Already there's interesting new info to chew over here - Palpatine's master was a nonhuman? Who would have thought!? EDITOR'S NOTE: INDEED! ESPEICAILLY WITH HIS WELL-KNOWN AVERSION TO NON-HUMANS, AND HIS INSTITUTIONALIZING THIS DURING HIS REIGN.

BUT WAIT....MORE BOOK NEWS ---First Look: AllegianceAuthor Timothy Zahn returns to the Star Wars galaxy next year with his next book, Star Wars: Allegiance.

Here's a first look at its cover, by artist John Van Fleet.

In Star Wars: Allegiance, which takes place during the time between Episodes IV and V, Luke Skywalker is still new to all this Jedi business. Han Solo isn't sure how much he's willing to commit to the Rebel Alliance. Princess Leia is trying to help run the Rebellion and wondering why Han is so infuriating. The young Mara Jade is one of the most valued agents of the evil Emperor. And a team of stormtroopers goes rogue, deciding to mete out justice their own way...EDITOR'S NOTE: TIMOTHY ZAHN AND CLASSIC TRILOGY TIME PERIOD. ALL IS RIGHT WITH THE GALAXY!

Del Rey Books is scheduled to publish this hardcover release on January 30, 2007.

EDITOR'S NOTE: STAR WARS MYSTERY PROJECT 2007 ART, NEXT TWO IN THE SERIES:On a world where much comes to vanish, a lone figure stands up to be noticed.

There's more of the Wookiee home world waiting to be explored.

EDITOR'S NOTE: AND NOW, TWO WEEKS WORTH OF WEEKLY PICS ---

In this early color study of Jar Jar Binks by Terryl Whitlatch, the artist suggests a more dramatic coloration.This early Ralph McQuarrie painting captures the Colin Cantwell conceptual version of the Y-wing fighter, complete with bubble-dome turret gun which would be unfilmable using 1970s visual effects.

This tank droid concept made it as far as a digital model before it was cut from Episode III. Ryan Church's painting establishes the virtual environment of the Senate chamber walkway for Episode II.

Friday AM DisneyDweebing

EDITOR'S NOTE: IT'S BEEN THE KIND OF WEEK THAT SORT OF DEMANDS A DISNEY MOMENT TO WRAP IT UP. WE'VE SURVIVED (WELL...ALMOST AT THIS JUNCTURE IN THE AM) ANOTHER FRANTIC, SEMI-ANNOYING WEEK. LET'S GO TO DISNEYLAND!FOUR-PART FUN AT DISNEYLANDThe Dapper Dans get a fresh take on their Sweet Old Barbershop SoundThe Dapper Dans bring freewheeling fun to Disneyland park.

It's part of what makes Main Street, Main Street - a stroll down the nostalgic avenue into Disneyland park doesn't feel complete without the melodic strains of a gay '90s EDITOR'S NOTE: OR, IN THE CASE OF WHO WORKS AT DISNEYLAND, GAY AUGHTS? classic song in four-part harmony, crooned by gents in candy-striped suits and jaunty boaters.

Like the Dixieland jazz bands of New Orleans Square or the quarrelsome cowboys in Frontierland, the Dapper Dans barbershop quartet "brings life into the lands of Disneyland," says Stage Manager Mitch Mocilnikar. "You can have buildings and you can have attractions, but who are the people who live on Main Street? That's who the Dapper Dans are."

We wondered who these singers were and how they got there. Where do you find a highly skilled barbershop quartet in 2006?

We turned to Disneyland to get the scoop.

Barbershop quartet singing is a beloved American institution, but few singers make a living at it.

"I can only think of two barbershop quartets that are full-time - one works at Disneyland, and one works at Disney World!" says Mitch.

Four men sing sentimental, charming tunes in multipart harmony, often a cappella -- although the Dapper Dans add an instrumental twist with instruments known as Deagan organ chimes, which look vaguely like tubular windchimes crossed with a xylophone. They're a beloved Park institution - the Dapper Dans have been in Disneyland in various venues since the '50s - and right now they're getting what the Park calls a "refresh."

They're performing new routines and a new roster of 12 singers is debuting. However, Mitch is quick to assure us that "It's not tossing out the old and bringing in the new. In some cases it's bringing back the old - some of the

Ready to harmonize -- the full complement of Dapper Dans.

routines they're doing are very similar to what they used to do before Walt Disney World opened. They actually brought a lot of these routines to Disney World, and now we're bringing them back, so to speak."

Prospective Dapper Dans need to be great harmony singers, but that's just a starting point.

"We're looking for good singing and musicianship, but we're also looking for people that dance and are personable,"EDITOR'S NOTE: IT ALSO HELPS IF THEY ARE SPOOKILY CHEERFUL. explains Mitch. "It's a pretty exacting standard -- we're looking for the best!"

Because they perform in the midst of Disneyland Guests, they need to enjoy attracting a crowd, stay in character as gents of turn of the last century, and be ready for all kinds of weather. They also need to develop a specialized performance skill; Guests will now find the Dapper Dans wheeling up and down Main Street on a "quad bike" - a bicycle built for four. And they'll be singing all the while - courtesy of wireless microphones that allow their tunes to be heard through the audio speakers that line Main Street.

Fortunately, when it comes to attracting "the best," Disneyland has an edge. Mitch is a musician and performer himself (he's played in the Bell Hops at the Disneyland Hotel, and in several of the bands around the Park) and he says that performing at a Disney park is an experience that can't be equaled anywhere else. The magic ingredient? The Disney Guests.

"You have an ideally themed environment. You have Guests who come expecting high quality and are ready to be enchanted. There's a magic everyone experiences when you cross the threshold. You've got a perfect audience!"EDITOR'S NOTE: UNTIL ABOUT 4PM WHEN THE KIDS GET SUGAR-LOADED AND TIRED AND THE PARENTS START TO GET CRANKY?

So the next time you stroll down Main Street U.S.A., at Disneyland park or the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort (which has its own complement of Dapper Dans), keep an ear out for a sweetly nostalgic tune and let the Dapper Dans take you back to a simpler (and more tuneful) era.

EDITOR'S NOTE: SO. THAT COMPLETES OUR BRAINWASHING FOR THE WEEK FROM THE DISNEY PUBLICITY MACHINE. (JUST ANOTHER SERVICE WE PROVIDE).OH...AND IT MAY BE BRAINWASHING, BUT OUR LITTLE SKULLS WERE FULL OF JUNK AND NEEDED A CLEANSING ANYWAY, RIGHT?

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Some Mid-June Odds-n-Ends

EDITOR'S NOTE: LET'S TAKE SOME TIME TO HODGEPODGE, SHALL WE? (EVERYONE SING ALONG.."BIRDS DO IT, BEES DO IT..........")FIRST UP, A FEW MOVIE ODDS-N-ENDS ---

Spielberg has heavy pic for ParSteven Spielberg is set to defy gravity for Paramount Pictures.

The helmer is attached to direct an untitled sci-fi film for the studio that delves into Caltech physicist Kip Thorne's theories of gravity fields. Although the project is considered embryonic -- there is no screenplay yet and would likely be three to four years away from fruition -- Thorne wrote a treatment with the help of producer and science nut Lynda Obst, prompting Spielberg's involvement. Obst ("How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days") will produce the film through her Paramount-based shingle.

Based on real science, the film will explore the mind-bending territory of black holes and gravity waves and touch on some of the hypotheses that Albert Einstein chased but never could prove. Thorne, a longtime friend of Obst's, is one of the world's leading experts on relativity.

Lloyd Dobler and Pee Wee Herman Vs. Batman?Actor John Cusack is apparently ardent to play D.A Harvey Dent – the law-abider who eventually becomes the stained Two-Face – in the next “Batman” movie, according to a scooper for Batman On Film. EDITOR'S NOTE: AND DOES OUR MISS B PLAN ON DUMPING HER NEW HUBBY FOR CUSAK, OR IS THE HONEYMOON STILL ON?In the film, Dent teams with Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) and Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) to catch the villainous ‘Joker’.

Though this is the first anyone’s heard of Cusack being interested in the role –Live Schrieber and Hugh Jackman have been rumoured to be in the running for that part – there could be something in this. Maybe. Possibly. For the sake of the news item. The “Con Air” and “Say Anything” star has pretty much cleared most of his schedule for 2007, so he could easily fit the role in.

Should Cusack - who I love by the way, and I think he’d be a treat in the role! - snag the role, he’d be signing for two movies, in essence : The next film, and the one after – in which he’d turn into the abovementioned Two-Face.

And here’s another one to throw on the rumour mound…

TV series, G4, ran a report saying that Paul ‘Pee Wee Herman’ Reubens will be playing The Joker in the next film. Yep, according to the show, he’s the man. The new Clown Prince of Crime. The Smiling assassin.Anything in that? I doubt it.

I’d say they’ve simply gotten their Paul’s mixed up (Paul Bettany is actually an oft-rumoured candidate for the role), or have been slipped a bogus rumour. I could be wrong, but I just don’t see Reubens being the star catch the sequel so dearly needs. (He actually had a role in one of the ‘other’ “Batman” movies too, “Batman Returns”, playing The Penguin’s father, so I think that would involuntarily rule him out. I believe they don’t want this new series to bare any tie to the original foursome.) EDITOR'S NTOE: OR MAYBE THEY'VE GOT THE RIGHT PAUL, BUT HE'S GOING TO PLAY HARELY QUINN. (HE'S GRACEFUL ENOUGH FOR THE ROLE). AHEM.....Barbarian BeginsDon’t expect Schwarzenegger (or Grace Jones, not that you ever did) to be swording-up again as Conan the Barbarian, with Variety indicating today that they’re going the “Batman” route and doing a restart of the popular action franchise.

Boaz Yakin has apparently written a script that’s a lot more faithful to the Robert E. Howard created-character, than the Schwarzenegger films. EDITOR'SN OTE: SO IT'LL BE IN ENGLISH THIS TIME? The studio is also considering offering Yakin (“Remember the Titans”) the director’s chair.

John Milius, the man behind the original “Conan”, had written a script called “King Conan”, a couple of years back, which he was trying to entice both the studio and Arnold Schwarzenegger to do (or, if Arnold wasn’t going to be available, Triple H EDITOR'S NOTE: ONLY ONE CUP OF COFFEE SO FAR TODAY, AND I'M NOT TERRIBLY HIP OR CLEVER WHEN I'M FULLY CAFFEINATED...'TRIPLE H'? was apparently in line), but Warner just didn’t show much interest.

Belle plays an orphaned deaf and mute girl sent to live in the home of her godparents (Falco and Donovan) and their daughter (Cuthbert). Her presence unleashes the dark secrets of their suburban family EDITOR'S NOTE: I GREW UP IN A SUBURBAN FAMLY, AND I'M REALLY BEGINNING TO FEEL CHEATED CAUSE WE HAD NO DARK SECRETS TO UNLEASH. DRAT. (OOO... ANOTHER THING TO BLAME MY PARENTS FOR!)and her love interest (Ashmore).

'Shortbus' has a driverNEW YORK -- John Cameron Mitchell's comedy-drama "Shortbus," which features scenes in which actors engage in actual sex, EDITOR'S NOTE: FUN FUN FUN FOR THE WHOLLLLLE FAMILY! has parked itself at ThinkFilm.

The indie company has picked up North American rights to the feature, which premiered Out of Competition at last month's Festival de Cannes. The largely improvised film explores the lives of seven straight and gay New Yorkers seeking an emotional connection with one another. The sex is presented as one part of the characters' complex lives, which intersect at the Bohemian salon Shortbus.

ThinkFilm plans to give the $2 million "Shortbus" a platform release in the fall, eventually bringing it to specialty theaters across the country. But the unrated film's several sexually explicit moments present a marketing challenge. EDITOR'S NOTE: UMMM....YA THINK?!

NEW YORK -- Nielsen Media Research said Wednesday that it would integrate TV and Internet measurement, add ratings for viewing on such portable devices as cell phones and iPods, and gave a firm date of 2011 for the end of paper diaries in even the smallest markets.

The scope of Wednesday's news stunned many in the media industry, who had for years told Nielsen that it moved too slow in reacting to the changes in the TV business. It also came months after Nielsen told Arbitron that it wouldn't go ahead with the joint venture involving Arbitron's Portable People Meter technology. While many in the industry wanted to make sure Nielsen could deliver on its new promises, the company was universally praised for its action. EDITOR'S NOTE: AND LET'S ALL HOLD OUR BREATH AND SEE IF THE DEADLINE IS REAL. (NOT TO MENTION, THE INDUSTRY PUSHES AND PUSHES FOR NSI TO SPEED UP, BUT IF THEY DO MAKE THIS DEADLINE, WANNA MAKE A BET THAT IT WILL BE WITH MEASUREMENT TOOLS THAT THE INDUSTRY WILL GRIPE WEREN'T TESTED ENOUGH OR AREN'T ACCURATE ENOUGH?)

Pilots fly from L.A. in '06 season

Los Angeles' share of pilot season production fell 21% this year as producers took advantage of tax breaks and other incentives in Canada and states other than California, the regional film permitting group plans to report Friday.

FilmL.A.'s annual pilot season roundup found that while the overall number of pilots declined 3%, from 124 projects last year to 120 in the recent February-May pilot season, Los Angeles' share decreased from 85% in 2005 to 67% this year. In terms of the actual numbers, the local area accounted for 81 projects this year, compared with 105 last year.

"You have increases in New York and other areas that never saw or rarely saw pilots before, and they happen to be areas that have incentives as well," FilmL.A. president Steve MacDonald said.

Hollywood's spring renewal

While short of a record, the spring boxoffice season bounced back into more respectable territory this year after a dismal performance in 2005.

The rebound was fueled largely by the warm reception given 20th Century Fox's "Ice Age: The Meltdown," which was the season's top-grossing film with nearly $200 million, as well as two other pictures that grossed more than $100 million each: Paramount Pictures' "Mission: Impossible III" and Sony's "The Da Vinci Code."

The national boxoffice tally for spring 2006 was $1.44 billion, up a stout 13% from the relatively tepid $1.28 billion reported the previous year.

Brave new world for summer tie-ins LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) -

Big summer films such as "Superman Returns" and "Cars" are looking further afield than traditional marketing partners like McDonald's, Burger King and PepsiCo as they try to reach niche markets -- and figure out how to deal with media attention on junk food and obesity.

"All the studios are aware that childhood obesity is an issue," EDITOR'S NOTE: I MEAN, NOT THEIR KIDS. THEIR KIDS GO TO PILATES 6 TIMES A WEEK. BUT THOSE POOR KIDS, THAT THE EXECS CARE ABOUT WHEN THEY ARE IN THE NEWS. one studio promotions executive said. "They're slowly starting to figure out what they want to do but there hasn't been a shift yet. People are just more aware of it."

More to the point, entertainment marketers and studio executives say they are seeking deals with unconventional brands and nontraditional partners in an attempt to reach as many moviegoers as possible.

Disney/Pixar's June 7 release "Cars" has lined up 17 promotional partners for what is being described as the biggest and broadest campaign in Disney history. More traditional partners include McDonald's, AT&T, Georgia-Pacific, Kellogg's and General Mills' Go-Gurt brand.

The other partners, many of them relatively new to the film business, are State Farm, Hertz, Goodyear, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Energizer, Valvoline, Mack Trucks, MovieTickets.com, Porsche, Airheads Candy, Intelligent Direct Marketing and NWA World Vacations.

Only four of the 17 tie-in partners for "Cars" sell products or developed promotional programs geared specifically for children as even family movies broaden their reach far beyond traditional kid-targeted brands.

"There are more and more promotions happening with companies that haven't done film tie-ins before as Hollywood reaches out to consumers in new and interesting ways," EDITOR'S NOTE: LOOK! MONEY OVER THERE! said Brett Dicker, marketing executive vp at Disney's Buena Vista Pictures unit.

Disney's July 7 release "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" is launching a big promotional program in the summer, though Disney said it was too early to provide specifics. McDonald's, Verizon, MSN and M&M's are on board, along with a number of other partners.

"Superman Returns," which opens June 30, has teamed with such traditional movie partners as Burger King and PepsiCo., whose promotion also includes PepsiCo. brands Tropicana, Quaker, Aquafina and Frito-Lay. Other promotional partners are Duracell, the Got Milk campaign, Samsung, Perfectmatch.com, the Newspaper Association of America and Quaker State Oil, which said "Superman Returns" is its first-ever movie tie-in. EDITOR'S NOTE: WAIT'LL THESE NEW PROMO PARTNERS SEE HOW FAT SUPERBOY'S THIGHS ARE! EEK. THAT CAN'T BE GOOD FOR BIZ.

The increased competition for brand marketing dollars from television, the Internet, music and video games also is leading studios to hook up with a growing number of unconventional promotional partners.

For "Over the Hedge," DreamWorks Animation worked with Wal-Mart to integrate several of the retailer's own suppliers into Wal-Mart's "Hedge" custom-animated TV spots. Hanes Tagless Tees, Diet Pepsi, Frito-Lay Baked Cheetos, Gatorade, Oscar Meyer beef franks, HP digital cameras and Coleman Coolers all were featured in Wal-Mart's summer-themed "Hedge" spots.

Universal Pictures, along with such promotional partners as Anheuser Busch and MasterCard, came up with some intriguing concepts for "The Break-Up," which opened June 2.

Budweiser is hosting a "National Break Up Day" microsite for the Jennifer Anniston film that includes such features as community postings of the worst break-up stories and the best ways to break up; compatibility quizzes, e-cards and other viral tools to facilitate actual breakups and a "photochop" application that allows users to scratch, replace, burn, tear or mark up the faces of their former loves.

MasterCard's promotion includes a special edition Zagat guide incorporating ideal restaurants for breakups that will be inserted into magazines in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

For "The Da Vinci Code," Sony Pictures partnered with the Eurostar train rail system, the tourism boards for the U.K., France and Ireland, Symantec, Cingular, Google, Sony Ericsson and DaimlerChrysler's Smart Car, which was featured in the movie.

Warner Bros. even managed to set up a unique tie-in for "Poseidon," the disaster movie that quickly sank at the box office. EDITOR'S NOTE: IT SANK? BOAT-SINKING JOKES ASIDE, I THOUGHT "POSEIDON" DID WELL AT THE BOX OFFICE. NO? Ike Behar shirts, which were worn by Josh Lucas and Kurt Russell in the movie, ran co-branded print ads in a number of fashion magazines and an in-store promotional program at Nordstom.

93-Minute Italian Film Shot with Cell Phone CameraA director chose to film his documentary about romance with just a mobile phone -- for its low cost and intimacy.ROME (AP) -- The theme is familiar to many independent movies -- explicit chat about love and sex -- but the tool used to shoot an Italian feature-length documentary is new: A standard cell phone camera.

Italian directors have completed a 93-minute documentary they say is the first feature film to be entirely shot by such a technique. Called ''New Love Meetings,'' it was filmed in a MPEG4 format with a Nokia N90 -- a regular, higher-end cell phone on sale around the globe, documentary co-director Marcello Mencarini said.

The technique underscores what has become a fixture in today's globalized world: The use of amateur video and cell phone cameras to immortalize moments in people's lives. Also, when news breaks, early footage is often shot with a cell phone, and, in the case of major events, authorities and news outlets have been known to call on amateurs to come forward with video.

''With the widespread availability of cell phones equipped with cameras, anybody could do this,'' Mencarini said in a telephone interview from Milan. ''If you want to say something nowadays, thanks to the new media, you can.'' EDITOR'S NOTE: BUT I BET SPIELBERG OR AARON SORKIN WOULD DO IT BETTER ,HUH?

When it comes to movies, though, cell phone cameras present limits, such as the difficulty to film in darkness or the lack of microphones. EDITOR'S NOTE: AND THE FACT THAT ANY BOOB WITH 10 BUCKS CAN WIELD ONE? As a result, the movie mostly features close-ups, and the image, while overall clear, is slightly shaky. EDITOR'S NOTE: DON'T DRINK AND FILM, KIDS! Directors said Tuesday that no post-production manipulation was made on the image. EDITOR'S NOTE: WHAT WOULD BE THE POINT?!

Although no professional lightening was needed, a pocket flashlight was used at times, said Milan-based Barbara Seghezzi, the other director of the movie. EDITOR'S NOTE: SO IT LOOKS GREAT....AS LONG AS YOU ALSO WATCH IT ON A PHONE.

The approach offers the advantage of being intimate, leading people to open up a little more easily, directors say. In a documentary about love and eroticism, that doesn't hurt.

For two months last year, the directors interviewed some 700 people across Italy, at bars, open markets, on the beach. About 100 of them ended up in the movie.

The directors' idea was to do a modern version of the 1965 documentary ''Love Meetings'' by Pier Paolo Pasolini, the famed film director and writer found beaten to death 30 years ago. Low costs and greater flexibility were among the reasons why Seghezzi and Mencarini decided to use a cell phone. Now, producers are looking at ways to distribute the film.

In his documentary Pasolini interviewed Italians to find out their views about sex in postwar Italy. Attitudes across the country showed people had taboos and self-censorship was widespread.

'New Love Meetings'' explores subjects ranging from the first time to homosexuality and jealousy, in interviews that include transsexuals and a priest. EDITOR'S NOTE: CLARIFICATION....WERE THE TRANSSEXUALS ALSO PRIESTS? OR IS THIS TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS? (GIGGLE) And it found that not much has changed. EDITOR'S NOTE: CERTAINLY NOT WHEN IT COMES TO TRANSSEXUALS. OR PRIESTS.

''When it comes to sexuality a certain malaise is still there, taboos and problems persist,'' Seghezzi said. EDITOR'S NOTE: SO IT'S NOT JUST ME. HOW NICE TO KNOW.

AND MORE ON THIS TOPIC WE'VE ALREADY DISCUSSED SOME EARLIER ----

There's no business like ad businessBy Laura Petrecca, USA TODAYNEW YORK — Broadway's biggest stars celebrateD the Great White Way during the 60th Annual Tony Awards on Sunday.

But producers have a different color in mind — green — these days as they team with marketers to add product placements, in-theater sponsorships and even commercials to their stages.

Theater "is the oldest form of entertainment, and it's been taken for granted for a long time,"EDITOR'S NOTE: AND HENCE WHY ACTORS ARE OFTEN COMPARED TO THAT OTHER OLDEST FORM OF....UMMM....ENTERTAINMENT. says Nancy Coyne, CEO of Serino Coyne, which specializes in entertainment-related marketing. Companies "are waking up and seeing that there are a lot of affluent people in theaters."

The growing commercialization has some critics turning thumbs down.

"They're trying to turn Broadway into ad-way," says Gary Ruskin of watchdog group Commercial Alert. "People go to Broadway for a moment of solace. This could alienate the audience."EDITOR'S NOTE: IF "LESTAT" AND THE ABBA SHOW DIDN'T SCARE THEM OFF, I DON'T THINK A FEW MARQUEE OR IN--THEATER PROMOS IS GONG TO DO ANY HARM.

But it's hard for marketers to resist the more than 12 million people who saw Broadway shows during the 2005-06 season, as tracked by The League of American Theatres and Producers.

They spent $862 million on tickets in the season that ended on May 28, up 12% from the previous season. Theatergoers' average annual household income the previous season was $96,100. EDITOR'S NOTE: AND THERE YOU HAVE WHY I HAVEN'T SEEN A BROADWAY SHOW IN A WHILE; I'M NOWHERE NEAR THE INCOME CUTOFF. (WONDER IF ANY OF THOSE THEATERGOERS ARE SINGLE. AND STRAIGHT....)

There's less data about the millions more who see off-Broadway shows, traveling and regional productions.

Marketers also are interested because theatergoers can't zap through ads the way they do at home with digital video recorders and VCRs. And that audience is usually deeply engaged.

"In the theater, you use all five of your senses," says producer Kevin McCollum, whose shows include Rent, Avenue Q and TheDrowsy Chaperone. "It's not just about the message. It's about how you experience the message."

Costly costumes

Meanwhile, Broadway producers are eager to offset their soaring costs. They spent $165 million on expenses for new productions in the season that ended in May 2005, up 23% from the previous year, according to the League.

"A Broadway musical can cost between $10 million and $15 million to produce," Coyne says. EDITOR'S NOTE: AND THE REALLY BAD ONES...WITH ALL THE FX AND NO PLOT...COST EVEN MORE.

That helps to explain why Cablevision Systems just hired a product-integration firm to find corporate partners for its popular annual holiday show at Radio City Music Hall.

"For the first time in its 73-year history, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular will use product placement," says Amy Willstatter, founder of marketing firm Bridge to Hollywood and Broadway. She says she's "aggressively in the marketplace" seeking integration deals for acts such as "Santa's Workshop," where St. Nick prepares for his gift drop-off.

Marketers will probably pay Radio City a fee. But in other cases producers accept free products to offset the costs of play props and opening-night parties.

For example, Shanta Mali, marketing director for off-Broadway's MCC Theater, contacted Evian after she saw that the product was mentioned in the play Some Girl(s), which opened Thursday.

Evian agreed to supply bottles of water for use as props. In return, it gets the onstage exposure as well as credit in Playbill, the pamphlet that theater ushers give to each audience member. EDITOR'S NOTE: YES, IT COULD BE A SLIPPERY SLOPE. (TV PRODUCERS ARE BEING PRESSURED TO MENTION RANDOM PRODUCTS IN THEIR SCRIPTS FOR PAYOLA). BUT THIS SORT OF THING, WHEN HANDLED WISELY, MAKES COMPLETE SENSE. AND ANYTHING TO OFFSET THE COSTS IN A MEDIUM WITH ALMOST NO MARGINS, YES?

While Mali says she'll gladly take the props, "The goal, of course, is for Evian to give us money to offset the cost of production." That can range from $300,000 to $600,000 for an off-Broadway show.

Most companies don't disclose the price of individual sponsorship and product-integration deals.

However, the League says that over the past decade companies such as Visa, Sprint and Continental Airlines paid $125 million in cash and media support for Broadway shows.

The ad's the thingAmong the ways marketers hope to steal the show:

•Live commercials. EDITOR'S NOTE: THIS IS THE ONE WE ALREADY REPORTED ON.Tourist group Visit London produced four-minute preshow skits for theaters in New York and Pittsburgh that encouraged people to visit the British capital. The payoff: Visit London promoted the participating theaters on its website.

•Product integration. Sprint tied in with the off-Broadway production Burleigh Grime$, about scheming stockbrokers. In a barter deal, Sprint provided cellphones and PDAs as props, while one scene was rewritten to say "No e-mails on this one. Go Sprint-to-Sprint" instead of "Go cell-to-cell."

Spirits marketer Jose Cuervo paid to have 2005's Broadway revival of Sweet Charity promote Gran Centenario tequila. Playwright Neil Simon approved a script change that has a character drink the tequila instead of scotch. Gran Centenario's logo also was incorporated into a dance scene.

The Broadway show has closed, but Gran Centenario will stay in the touring version, which begins in September.

•Theater naming rights. In May, Snapple made its off-Broadway debut with the Snapple Theater Center in Times Square. Others with stage names: American Airlines Theatre and the Cadillac Winter Garden Theatre. EDITOR'S NOTE: WHY NOT?! IBSEN AND O'NEILL ASIDE, ARE WE ANY BETTER THAN FOOTBALL? (I THINK WE MIGHT BE A LITTLE BETTER THAN WRESTLING,....ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER ASIDE.... BUT SURELY NOT THAN FOOTBALL OR BASEBALL).

•Special products. QVC created a Scoundrel Collection of necklaces, earrings and bracelets for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. They sold last year for $36 to $314. Actors wore the QVC-provided jewelry onstage, and the theater concessionaire sold select pieces. EDITOR'S NOTE: OOO...WAY BETTER TCHATKE FROM A SHOW THAN JUST A T-SHIRT AND CD, HUH?!

EDITOR'S NOTE: AND MORE SILLINESS FROM THE WACKY WORLD OF ADVERTISING. (WHAT THEY WON'T DO TO GET YOUR ATTENTION, EH?)

Panasonic kicked off a public-awareness effort dubbed "Neuter Your Bunny" to inform the public of the benefits of neutering or spaying rabbits and of the long-lasting power of Panasonic's Oxyride Extreme Power batteries.

If consumers sense some animosity from Panasonic toward one of its main competitors (the very fuzzy, very pink, very energetic Energizer Bunny), well, that's the idea.

With an offbeat rabbit theme of its own, Panasonic's Oxyride batteries brand is taking on the Energizer bunny.

Neuteryourbunny.com EDITOR'S NOTE: I HAVEN'T VISITED THIS WEBSITE YET, BUT THE NAME MAKES ME GIGGLE. SOMEONE GO THERE AND REPORT BACK!

The campaign includes a Web site, neuteryourbunny.com, a "Neuter Your Bunny"van and an upcoming TV commercial. A "Neuter Your Bunny Day" is planned forJune 14EDITOR'S NOTE: OH DRAT, I MISSED IT! , when the Center for Avian and Exotic Medicine in Manhattan willprovide free bunny neuters for selected owners.

In addition, Panasonic will donate $10,000 to the House Rabbit Society -- a group that rescues rabbits and educates the public on rabbit care -- to support the cause.

The public has misconceptions about bunnies and how they should be cared for, just as there are misconceptions about battery technology, said BrianKimberlin, Panasonic Battery Corp. of America's director-consumer marketing.

Erratic behavior

Bunnies are often abandoned or let into the wild because their owners don't understand their erratic behavior, EDITOR'S NOTE: WHICH, IN MY EXPERIENCE WITH MY BROTHER AND SISTER-IN-LAW'S BUNNY, STEMS FROM THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DUMB AS FUZZY CHEW-TOYS. (AND IN FACT, ARE FUZZY CHEW-TOYS IF A SMARTER, HUNGRIER ANIMAL IS IN THE ROOM). which can often be altered by having the rabbit spayed or neutered.

Oxyride is a type of battery technology developed by Panasonic and released last year, Mr. Kimberlin said. To accompany the technological developments,Panasonic is launching a very aggressive marketing campaign.

"We are pushing very fast to become one of the top brands in the marketplace," Mr. Kimberlinsaid.

The battery marketplace is dominated by Duracell and Energizer, with Panasonic winning less than 2% market share. (Compare that to Duracell's 29%and Energizer's 25%.)

"Our concern is that Panasonic is doing nothing more than confusing customers," EDITOR'S NOTE: CONFUSING THEM ABOUT WHAT? BATTERIES? BUNNIES? THE COLOR PINK? OK. NOW I'M CONFUSED. (HEY, AT LEAST THEY ARE SAYING 'NEUTER YOUR BUNNY" AND NOT "FEED YOUR BUNNY TO YOUR CAT")!saidJackie Burwitz, Energizer's VP-investor relations. New product awareness

"We're really proud that we were able to partner with the House Rabbit Society to bring about public awareness of the issue, as well as raisingawareness of our new technology," Mr. Kimberlin said.

"We're hoping that the campaign will raise enough awareness that people will want more information," said Mary Cotter, VP-education director for theInternational House Rabbit Society and director of the organization's NewYork City chapter. "We hope this may ultimately result in less abandonment of rabbits."

But Panasonic, of course, is hoping the campaign gets consumers to abandon one particular bunny.

Advertising is usually about sights and sounds, visual and aural stimulation.

This campaign adds a different sensory appeal to the marketing palette, smell.

In many other respects it's a pretty standard piece of media activity: A perfume brand buys posters at an airport in the duty-free section -- hit all those high-flyers close to the point of sale as they await their transport home -- together with some generic creative, a handsome male gets his neck sniffed by a glamorous girl. Oh and someone has also taken a picture of the bottle.

However, as with many Cream case studies, it's the twist in the tale that sets this activity apart from the crowd.

That's because fitted inside eightof the 17 panels at Orly Sud and Roissy 2 in Paris are perfume diffusers to ensure that potential consumers not only see the brand's advertising but also experience the new Silver Black fragrance. .

The activity ran for a month in the two airports as part of a launch campaign for the Azzaro brand with the diffusion technology in the poster site spreading the fragrance up to 15 feet in all directions. EDITOR'S NOTE: THAT'S FAIRLY AGRESSIVE SPRAYING. STANDING RIGHT NEXT TO THE POSTER COULD PUT YOU INTO A SCENT-INDUCED COMA!

Thus not only did the perfume house hit the much-desired business traveler in the run-up to Christmas, but it also enabled consumers to sample the product without them having to rip open all those tedious scent strips in glossy magazines.

Clear Channel is discussing the idea of one-second radio spots with marketers and media buyers.

EDITOR'S NOTE; LET'S PAUSE FOR A SECOND AND THINK ABOUT THAT. TIMES UP!

Blinks are one-second commercials.

'Blinks'

The real value of the Blinks, as they are being called, may be in the publicity they can generate.

After all, you're already reading an article about them, and the short spots are only in the concept stage. The radio giant, however, says it didn't think up Blinks as a promotional stunt.

"It really is to find new uses of radio for advertisers who are continually asking us to demonstrate that our medium can successfully extend brands, can successfully reach the consumer with touchpoints that are new and surprising" said Jim Cook, senior VP-creative for Clear Channel Radio.

Audio mnemonics

The Blinks could be used in a number of ways. Clear Channel's Creative Services Group crafted a demonstration spot using the McDonald's jingle, minus the "I'm lovin' it" language, and placed it between one hip-hop song and another. The group also created a Blink for BMW's Mini Cooper with a horn honking and man's voice saying "Mini," and placed it before miniaturized news reports. (Neither marketer has a deal with Clear Channel for Blinks.) Other audio mnemonics that could use Blinks are the Intel chime and the NBC bells.Jim Gaither, director-broadcast at Richards Group, has been in conversation with Clear Channel about three-second spots. "It's not building a brand; it's refreshing a brand," EDITOR'S NOTE: IT'S ABOUT DRIVING THE RADIO LISTENER ,SCREAMING AND WAVING MONEY, INTO THE OPEN ARMS OF THE SATELLITE RADIO PEOPLE. he said, adding: "You can't use a one-second campaign for something that generally has not been advertised before."

Frequency needed

You also need frequency, because if you just hear a sound and nothing else, the message is going to have to be driven into the consumer, Mr. Gaither said. It's also best suited to a marketer's core customer, because those are the people for whom the Blink will have the most impact, he said.

Mr. Gaither said he doesn't think he has a marketer at the moment that perfectly fits the bill. But would marketers want to be so brief?

Andrew Goldstein, instructor of a broadcast-media-writing course at the Miami Ad School and a copywriter at Zimmerman Advertising, isn't convinced national advertisers would want a sound effect thrown into the programming.

"You're not going to know it's connected to the brand, and it's going to lose its value," he said. Lauren Russo, managing director-local radio at Horizon Media, said, "I can't see any advertiser, any agency paying for a spot that's one second." If Clear Channel came to her to buy the ads, she wouldn't be interested. "If they want to throw it in at no charge, I don't think we would say no," she said, but, "I just don't see how you can communicate anything in that little time period." EDITOR'S NOTE: FOR ESTABLISHED BRANDS, WHAT MORE DO YOU NEED TO COMMUNICATE THAN THE NAME? OVER AND OVER AND OVER. BUT FOR THE LISTENER, IT'S ADDED CLUTTER, AND COMMERCIAL RADIO IS JUST ABOUT UNLISTENABLE TO AS IT IS, WHAT WITH THE SPOT LOAD IT CURRENTLY CARRIES.

Clear Channel said it hasn't decided on pricing and package information, but Mr. Gaither estimates that the time may be sold at a 200% to 300% increase on what one-thirtieth of a 30-second spot might cost.

Hard to verify

And when it comes to verifying that the spot ran, there could be a problem. TNS Media Intelligence can track broadcast spots that are five-seconds or more in length, with the possibility of tracking three-second spots with some development, said Richard Radzik, VP-broadcast verification services at TNS Media Intelligence.

In the late 1990s, Cramer-Krasselt, a Chicago-based independent ad agency, did a one-second TV spot for Master Lock in which a padlock is shot with a bullet in front of a bull's-eye. The image of a high-powered rifle shooting through a Master Lock padlock had been on the Super Bowl for many years and was an icon before the one-second spot aired. The media buy was small, as most major networks weren't equipped to handle a one-second ad, but the PR and publicity were worth millions of dollars, said John Melamed, exec VP at Cramer-Krasselt. The big PR boon, however, may be for Clear Channel.EDITOR'S NOTE: A RADIO CORP'S DREAM COME TRUE: 200-300% MARK-UP ON A TRADITIONAL :30-SECOND SPOT, AND NO WAY TO PROVE THEY DIDN'T RUN.

"This is a way for Clear Channel to get more news," Mr. Gaither said. "I don't think you're going to see any kind of mass exodus from traditional 30- and 60-second radio advertising to people doing one-second spots. You're going to get a dozen people that it makes a lot of sense for ... and we'll call it a day, and Clear Channel will be the ones that were out there doing it first." EDITOR'S NOTE: OH. SO CYNICAL. AND HERE I THOUGHT CLEAR CHANNEL LOVED US AND JUST WANTED WHAT WAS BEST FOR US.

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

Wednesday QUICKIES

EDITOR'S NOTE: JUST LIKE WITH LIFE, THAT HEADING SOUNDS BETTER THAN....WELLLLLL.....NEVER MIND.....A FEW QUICK DWEEB ITEMS, BEFORE I GET CAUGHT BLOGGING ON THE JOB. (THEY SUPPORT DWEEBING,.....WHETHER THEY KNOW IT OR NOT).

FIRST UP, SAD DAY IN MUDVILLE ---CPB takes a budget beating in HouseBy Brooks BoliekWASHINGTON --

The House Appropriations Committee voted Tuesday to slash funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and refused to fund the service for 2009.

The committee, which is responsible for writing the nation's spending bills, allocated $400 million to CPB for 2007. In addition, the committee decided against acting on funding CPB in 2009, eliminated the funding for the Ready to Learn grants and refused to fund the service's conversion to digital TV.

In all, public broadcasting's budget was reduced by 17.4%, the CPB said.

CPB is funded two years in advance in an attempt to blunt political influence.EDITOR'S NOTE: UMMM...YEAH....HOW'S THAT WORKIN OUT, THEN? In addition to complaints by conservatives that public broadcasting is too liberal, Republicans also have chafed at the advance-funding mechanism, claiming that it removes needed flexibility.

Said CPB president and CEO Patricia Harrison, "Anything less than full funding will not only present public broadcasting with an unfunded federal mandate to convert to digital broadcasting, it will also undermine its ability to both offer essential educational services and provide a backbone for a national emergency alert system."

The committee's vote sets up another round of fighting over public broadcasting, which has weathered controversy over alleged conservative efforts to unduly influence the service and the perception of a liberal bias.

John Lawson, president and CEO of the Association of Public Television Stations, called the committee action shortsighted.

"Many of these members decry indecency on television but voted today to eliminate funding for noncommercial, educational programming for kids," Lawson said. "They call for improving education and teacher quality but zero out funding that uses technology to bring professional development to teachers. ... This action seems to be a willful disregard for what public broadcasting means to America." EDITOR'S NOTE: YA THINK?!

The fight over funding now goes to the House floor and then onto the Senate, which is traditionally more amenable to CPB funding.

EDITORS' NOTE: AND WHILE WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STUPIDITY

Mother appeals decision to keep HP in schoolsA few months ago, mother-of-four Laura Mallory filed several complaints against all six Harry Potter books, saying they included "evil themes, witchcraft, demonic activity, murder, evil blood sacrifice, spells and teaching children all of this." EDITOR'S NOTE: AND HER LIPS GOT SOOOOO TIRED WHEN SHE TRIED TO READ THEM, TOO!

Even though she hasn't read any of the books because they're "too long,"EDITOR'S NOTE: AND I REST MY CASE! she noted that it would be difficult for children to distinguish between the fantastical events in the books and real life, EDITOR'S NOTE: NO, IT IS ONLY DIFFICULT FOR HER TO DISTINGUISE BETWEEN THE TWO; I'M SURE THE KIDDOS WOULD BE JUST FIIIIINNNNNE. and attempted to have them removed from school libraries in Gwinnett County.

Although this is true to an extent, the dark side of the books are portrayed in a bad light; no one thinks Voldemort's the hero.

On April 20th, scores of educators, parents and students showed their support for the books in a public hearing, and both the local school and system media committees concurred. In fact, the support for the books remaining in school libraries was so strong that hearing officer Su Ellen Bray offered ten reasons why they shouldn't be removed and on May 11th, the Gwinnett Board of Education voted that the novels should stay.

Mallory appealed this decision on Friday, and the legal services division of the Georgia Department of Education will now determine the next step in this debate. EDITOR'S NOTE: SINCE THIS IS HAPPENING IN GEORGIA, IT MIGHT BE DIFFICULT FOR THE DEPT. OF EDUCATION TO FIND A 'MINYAN' OF BOARD MEMBERS WHO CAN READ, BUT HERE'S HOPING THEY COME DOWN ON THE SANE SIDE OF THIS.

AND NOW, MORE THESPINGMERGINGWITHDWEEBING ---

Zeta Jones in Marshall's Gypsy?

“Chicago” duo Rob Marshall – he being the director – and Catherine Zeta Jones - she being the foxy lass with the lungs – look set to reunite on a film version of “Gyspy”, according to Liz Smith. The columnist says “…the Weinstein Company is close on the heels of director Rob Marshall for a movie version of the show about the evolution of that famous stripper - Gypsy Rose Lee - and her infamous stage mother, Rose. This incredible "best damn show I've seen in years!" (courtesy of New York Times critic Walter Kerr) opened to acclaim in 1959 with Broadway's hit-making powerhouse, Ethel Merman, in the role of Mama Rose. The Arthur Laurents "book" with Jule Styne music and Sondheim's lyrics has been revived over and over, usually successfully, with such as Angela Lansbury and Tyne Daly playing the part. Hollywood made a botch of it back in 1962 when they put the sleek Rosalind Russell in the role. (The only saving grace of this version was the delicious Natalie Wood as Gypsy.)”.

They did a film based on Gypsy a few years back, called simply “Gypsy”, which starred Bette Midler as Mama Rose, and Cynthia Gibb (god, whatever happened to her?) as the stripper, herself. EDITOR'S NOTE: ACTUALLY, IT WAS A TV MOVIE, AND I SEEM TO RECALL IT BEING PRETTY GOOD. AND IF THE PROBLEM WITH ROSALIND RUSSELL WAS HER SLEEKNESS, WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THE CASTING OF ZETA-JONES? (SHE MIGHT BE GOOD IN THE ROLE, BUT SHE SURE AIN'T A PAST-HER-PRIMER, HUH?ON THE OTHER HAND, ANYTIME SOMETHING FROM BROADWAY (AND SOMETHING CLASSIC AND GOOD FROM BROADWAY) GETS MERGED WITH SOMETHING TO DO WITH ROB MARSHALL, AND THEN THAT SOMETHING BECOMES A MAINSTREAM MOVIE, ALL IS GOOD. AND IN ANOTHER QUESTION-ABOUT-THE-CASTING MOMENT......

Daredevil gets a Magnum?

Ben Affleck as Magnum P.I?

Talking to UGO.com, via FilmForce, Charles Floyd Johnson, one of the producers of the original TV series, waxed lyrical on the forthcoming film version of the 80s hit.

We’ve heard the George Clooney rumours, now Johnson says Ben Affleck – wasn’t he linked to the “Hawaii Five-O” movie, at one point? – is another name that he’s heard banded about for the role of the Ferrari-driving hotshot.

One interesting thing, apparently Tom Selleck might only have him self to blame for losing the role in the film version. Sucks, would’ve loved to have seen Selleck – old or not – back in the role. EDITOR'S NOTE: I AGREE. REPUBLICAN THOUGH HE IS, SELLECK IS WONDERFULLY CHARISMATIC. AND MORE AND MORE SO AS HE AGES. THE VOTE IS STILL OUT ON WHETHER OR NOT AFFLECK CAN EVEN ACT, BUT WHAT HE DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE (AND PROBABLY NEVER WILL) IS CHARISMA. HE IS WHITE BREAD AND PASTE ON THE SCREEN. IMHO...

Says Johnson, “I think there's a reality to it and I think it will be wonderful, but unfortunately it won't star Tom. He was asked to do six or eight TV movies and at that time he really wanted to do it as a feature, so he held out on it and probably now they will consider him too old to do it."

According to Johnson, it’ll be a “Brian Grazer movie”, so there’s always the possibility of Tom Hanks, too. EDITOR'S NOTE: STILL NOT QUITE RIGHT, BUT BETTER THAN AFFLECK.

EDITOR'S NOTE: AND NOW, TOYS AND BIZ STUFF (OH MY?) ----Cartoon toys with MattelCartoon Network's worldwide consumer products division has announced an exclusive, multiyear master toy licensing deal with Mattel Inc. that covers seven original Cartoon Network shows for 6- to 11-year-olds and also carries a first-look option on all newly created original series and programming.

Under the terms of the global deal, Mattel will have licensing rights to multiple toy and game categories for both the Cartoon Network brand and seven individual shows, including "Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends," "The Powerpuff Girls," "Camp Lazlo" and "The Life & Times of Juniper Lee." The agreement marks the first time Cartoon Network has licensed its brand name in the U.S.

Existing relationships that cover original series "Ben 10" and "Codename: Kids Next Door" will remain unaffected by the deal

All 'Simpsons' all the timeNEW YORK -- In the months before 20th Century Fox unspools its big-screen version of "The Simpsons" on July 27, 2007, parent company News Corp. plans to leverage all units of its entertainment empire to promote the film, allowing them to benefit from the halo effect of the popular content brand, president and chief operating officer Peter Chernin said Tuesday.

Speaking at the Deutsche Bank Media & Telecommunications Conference in Santa Monica session that was available via webcast, Chernin said News Corp. held a three-hour meeting last week with about 40 executives from across the company, including its licensing, home video, book, satellite TV and TV network operations from around the world, as well as the film's executive producer, James L. Brooks, to discuss broader strategies related to the film's release.

By looking for synergies within the company, Chernin told investors that News Corp. could win several hundred million dollars in incremental revenue from the "Simpsons" film during the next couple of years. EDITOR'S NOTE: AND GREED IS SO VERY GOOD.

Tuesday, June 13, 2006

BREAKING Movie News!

EDITOR'S NOTE: SO HERE I GO TO ALL THE TROUBLE OF LOADING UP A HUGE MOVIE (AND TV) POSTING, THINKING...'PHEW! WE'RE DONE WITH THAT FOR A WHILE. NO NEW STUFF SHOULD LIKELY APPEAR THAT MATTERS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS'.RIGHT.....THIS IS DWEEBISHLY EXCITING TO SCIFI/ENT. DWEEBS AND TO THESP DWEEBS. THIS IS A SORT OF UNIVERSALDWEEB POSTING.Burton swaps Believe for SweeneyThe Tim Burton/Jim Carrey “Believe it or Not” project, the biopic about Robert LeRoy Ripley – the anthropologist and cartoonist who created the world famous Ripley's Believe It or Not! series, has been shelved in the interim, says The Hollywood Reporter.

The film wasn’t going to get the greenlight until the film fell within the $150 million dollar range, and unfortunately, that just didn’t happen – Carrey insisted on his own seal exhibit outside his trailer, or something, it seems.

Instead, Dreamworks have given director Burton another project to work on, “Sweeney Todd”, based on the Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical, and written by John Logan.

Not unexpectedly, Burton’s current go-to man Johnny Depp is first choice for the role of Demon Barber of Fleet Street, for the film.

No word on when “Believe” might get back up again. EDITOR'S NOTE: WHO CARES?! JOHNNY DEPP AS SWEENEY TODD!!! ZOWIE!